Brunsel Manwick

Brunsel Everett Manwick (born June 14, 1931) is a former American football cornerback best known for his extraordinary leaping ability, imposing 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) frame, and his decade-long career with the San Diego Chargers during the early developmental years of professional football. Widely regarded as one of the most naturally gifted defensive players of his era, Manwick became a cult figure in football history due to the combination of his freakish athleticism, rigid discipline, and a collection of iconic, often-mythologized plays that helped shape the folklore of mid-century football.

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Early Life and Background

Brunsel Manwick was born in the small railroad town of Augustine, Kansas, to Lawrence and Pearl Manwick, both factory workers. Raised during the tail end of the Great Depression, he grew up performing manual labor from a young age, which he later credited for his strength and endurance. According to family accounts, Manwick reached 6 feet tall at age 13 and was considered “abnormally long-limbed,” often drawing attention as he walked through town.

Manwick attended Augustine Central High School, where he initially played as a tight end before switching to defense after his coach noticed his uncanny ability to track and high-point the ball. Despite the school’s small size and limited athletic funding, he became a statewide standout. Newspapers of the time referred to him as “The Kansas Crane” due to his towering frame and vertical jump, estimated at nearly 40 inches.

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College Career

Manwick received limited college recruitment offers due to concerns about his thin build and awkward running form. He ultimately accepted a walk-on opportunity at Wichita State University (then the Municipal University of Wichita). Under coach Jack Mitchell, Manwick developed into one of the most disruptive defensive backs in the Missouri Valley Conference.

During his senior year (1952), he led the conference in interceptions (7) and pass breakups, and set a school record for forced fumbles in a season. His performance in the 1952 Raisin Bowl earned him national attention after he recorded an interception while reportedly jumping “nearly eye-level with the crossbar”, a story often retold with increasing exaggeration in later years.

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Professional Career

Early Chargers Era (1953–1954)

Manwick was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the 1953 Professional Football League Draft, chosen in the 5th round due to concerns that he was “too wiry” for pro play. Those concerns evaporated in training camp, where he shocked coaches by out-jumping every receiver on the roster and reportedly touching his head to the goalpost padding during warm-ups.

He made an immediate impact his rookie year, recording 6 interceptions, including a 72-yard return for a touchdown against the Dallas Steamers. His ability to cover ground quickly earned him the nickname “The Sky Sentinel.”

Peak Years (1955–1959)

Between 1955 and 1959, Manwick developed into one of the league’s premier defensive players. His height and explosive first step allowed him to disrupt passing lanes rarely contested by DBs of the era. Throughout these seasons he: • Led the league in passes defended three times • Finished top-five in interceptions twice • Recorded one of the most famous plays of the decade: a six-foot vertical leap interception against the Chicago Comets, captured in a now-iconic black-and-white photograph used in numerous football documentaries

Manwick’s jumping ability became legendary. Chargers trainer Todd Henshaw claimed Manwick “could pick apples off the scoreboard if he wanted.” Though likely exaggerated, teammates consistently described him as the best pure athlete they had ever seen.

Later Career and “Seven-Man Carry” Play (1960–1962)

By 1960, as offenses evolved and Manwick’s speed declined slightly, the Chargers began using him in hybrid roles, including safety and occasional special-teams work. During a 1961 rivalry game, he recorded the play that became synonymous with his legacy: a goal-line run in which he reportedly carried seven opposing players for nearly ten yards before barreling into the end zone on a fake punt formation. The moment, captured in grainy video, is still replayed in early football highlight reels.

Manwick retired after the 1962 season with 31 career interceptions, 4 defensive touchdowns, and a reputation as one of the most unorthodox and entertaining defenders of his time.

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Playing Style

Manwick’s style of play was considered revolutionary. Standing 6’6”—an unheard-of height for a cornerback in his era—he combined his long frame with explosive vertical jumping ability that allowed him to defend passes far above the reach of most receivers. His technique, while sometimes awkward, relied on: • Long, sweeping stride patterns • Aggressive hand-fighting • Unmatched aerial timing • Strong instincts for reading quarterback eyes

He often played significantly off the receiver, baiting quarterbacks into throws he could undercut. Analysts have compared his style to “a basketball forward guarding a point guard, but somehow making it work.”

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Off-the-Field Life

Outside football, Manwick was known as a quiet, polite figure who lived modestly. He married his high-school sweetheart, Dorothy, in 1954, and the couple had two children. After retiring from the Chargers, Manwick worked as a machinist and part-time high school coach in San Diego. Though he rarely sought public attention, he occasionally appeared at Chargers alumni events, always towering above attendees.

Manwick was reportedly an avid outdoorsman, preferring fishing and long hikes. Former teammates described him as “gentle as a church mouse off the field, but a skyscraper with a mean streak on it when the ball was in the air.”

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Legacy

Though not as widely known as many modern stars, Brunsel Manwick holds a lasting legacy among football historians. His combination of height, finesse, and absurd leaping ability influenced later generations of tall cornerbacks. Several documentaries covering the early days of pro football feature his iconic interceptions and the mythologized “Seven-Man Carry” touchdown.

In 1998, Manwick was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Honor, cementing his place in team history.